Patterson Talks Property Taxes, 2014 Race and More
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a declared candidate for the 2014 lieutenant governor's race, did not rule out supporting a statewide property tax to benefit public education funding, and he said that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has lost his "ability to sell" the issues.
Patterson, who made his comments Thursday during a TribLive conversation, said a statewide property tax, rather than local property taxes, “might be the answer” to the financing inequities in different counties. Such a move would require that a constitutional prohibition against that tax to be repealed.
On the 2014 race, Patterson had strong words about Dewhurst ...
Comments (7)
C.g. David via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How about no pensions for elected officials first. Start taking from politicians first. Also, stop electing lawyers as their whole industry revolves around chaos not solutions.
Mark Paulson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Greg Abbott really doesnt need to be Governor either. He is worse than Perry for the fact that he is an activist more than Perry is lazy.
Casey Bennett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So TribLive is playing politics instead of reporting?? His opinions of others are of no concern, nor are they "unbiased". Start asking the Land Commissioner questions that pertain to his position,,,not his opinions of those offices that he has chosen to fight with, or run a campaign against. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. He wants to run for a different office,,,,resign his position first then go after who ever he is running against. Obviously,,,he's not happy where he is, or what he does.
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
Statewide property tax? Dumbest idea ever. The State of Texas cannot be trusted to fulfill its Constitutional responsibility to fund education. As a taxpayer, I want my local school board to have discretion on whether to assure adequate funding for my kids schooling. Dewhurst, Perry and the whole lot of the ideological hacks that run this state can go to hell. I want LOCAL control and that includes the LOCAL ability to fund what the State should have but cannot be trusted to fund. I'm willing to pay my share.
John Johnson
Casey, everyone running for office is "biased", and Jerry Patterson has never been afraid to share his with others. He is a straight shooting, independent thinker who does not suck up to power brokers and fringe groups like Perry, Dewhurst, Abbott and Combs. Your criticism of the Trib's interviewing style is also off base. I want to know not only what he thinks about issues, but also about others. This piece was on others.
And Hans...sounds like you want to see a bunch of have's and have not communities on display here in Texas. Some with kids going to school in ornate castles and others in tents. Some with 5 kids per teacher and others with 50. That thinking, it seems, would also have us driving on a nice paved highway in one town and have it turn to gravel when hitting the city limits of the next. Is this really what you want to see in Texas?
Pickles Sorrell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I love a good lookin' marine and he had me at hello - but he lost me at statewide property tax. Sorry Jerry, you have been in office too long.
John Johnson
Oh, Pickles...when you say you don't agree with something, it's always nice to offer up what you think might be a better alternative. Why don't you tell Jerry what your plan might be. I know he would do his best to please a cute, little pea picker like you.